The Channel Nine personality is talking about his great friend Tommy Hanlon Jnr, a legend of the early years of Australian television, who still holds the record as the highest rating TV performer but gave it up to join the circus.

Hanlon died on Thursday night following a stroke. He was 80 but would hate anyone knowing. Whenever he was asked his age he would always answer: "39 - and have been for decades."

It was more than just a gag, his daughter April revealed yesterday. "When we asked him why he always said it, he told us it was because 39 was the happiest time of his life. He had come to Australia, found success and popularity on television. Life was wonderful."

Born in Parkersburg, West Virginia, Hanlon, the sixth generation in a long line of entertainers, clowns and vaudevillians, first came to Australia in 1959 as a stand-up comedian. Invited back the following year, he became a regular on Graham Kennedy's In Melbourne Tonight and reputedly never told the same joke twice.

His schtick was topical taps and "A Letter to Mother", quirky monologues that Smith says he continued writing every day until he became ill last year.

In March 1961 Hanlon began hosting a daytime show called It Could Be You, an unlikely mix of variety, hidden cameras, terminal illnesses, tearful reunions and giveaways that proved so popular he became the highest paid entertainer in the country.

Hanlon compered the program for eight years but left at the height of its success. A somewhat brooding personality when the cameras were off, he once said: "All the sad stuff started to prey on my mind; I couldn't eat... I was depressed all the time."

"It got to him," says Smith. "It was a very emotional show and it wasn't just playing it for tears. It was very moving and he was affected by that."

There were other programs, almost as successful: Let's Make A Deal; Surprise, Surprise; The Entertainers and Pot Of Gold. Smith believes Hanlon's appeal was his genuineness. "The big thing Tommy had going for him was his sincerity and naturalness in an area where you could so often put on an act. What you saw on the screen was what you got in person with Tommy."

Former IMT personality Rosemary Margan says Australians appreciated the fact that there was "no bullshit" about Hanlon. "He was a very gentle, open person with a great warm sense of humour."

In the mid-70s Hanlon gave up television to travel and perform with circuses, leaving his wife - and comedy foil - Murphy and teenage daughter April at home in Melbourne while he toured the backblocks.

"But Murphy was the love of his life and his best friend," says Anna Gasser, the owner of Silvers Circus where Hanlon spent 23 of the last 25 years as ringmaster. "He would ring her three times every day." Murphy died of throat cancer in 1991 and Hanlon never stopped grieving. He kept her ashes with him and wore her wedding ring around his neck.

"Tommy was part of our family," Mrs Gasser said. "He loved the life, the animals, illusions. He came from a long line of clowns and it was in his blood."